Patchwork 2012 arrives

Patchwork 2012 Springfield Music Compilation comes out this weekend with music by 19 local bands and cover art by Brian Galecki.

What a wonderful time it can be when wild notions become reality. For Robbie Kording and his idea for the Patchwork 2012 Springfield Music Compilation, now is that time.

As I recently wrote in Now Playing, it’s been awhile since we’ve had a recorded compilation of the Springfield music scene, with Patchwork’s namesake coming out in 1992 and a few others appearing during that time span. Someone sent Robbie a copy of an SJ-R article called “Roll Over, Abe Lincoln,” featuring the story of how Keefer the DJ and friend Coleman Lauterbach launched the original compilation 20 years ago.

“At the end of the article Keefer says, ‘If Patch Work succeeds, future projects might include a second Patch Work release…’ and that just gave me chills,” he said.

NIL8 and myself made both compilations with Ted Brannon making it in a band then and now, and plenty of musicians from the other groups still play around town in various musical combinations. The latest Patchwork contains 19 selections, including songs from Blue Ribbon Revival, MAG, Up in Arms, Go! Tsunami, The Transatlantic, and Tiger Tank.

“It was really hard to decide who to put on since there are so many good groups in town,” said Kording. “We started out trying it keep it to around 12, but just couldn’t do it. There are more out there, we just had to limit it.”

Kording had the “vague idea mumbled around before dawn,” but it took teamwork to get the project into the public realm. Marc Broomby of MoonPanda Studios mastered the recording, Brian Galecki covered the art design and Brandon Carnes took care of the screen printing.

“Without these guys this would not have gotten done,” said Kording. “I want to thank the bands and all Springfield bands ever. This is more of a music town than most people realize and bands need support. That’s the idea behind all of this.”

Patchwork 2012 is available for $3 on June 29 at Bar None during a show by NIL8, the Timmys and boon, then again on June 30 at Tin Can Pub when Josh Catalano & the Dirty Thoughts, Bernie Flesch and others play. Starting July 2 purchase a copy for $5 at Recycled Records, The Rock Shop, Samuel Music, Daddy-O’s Music Shop or Bar None.

Chris Miller, a tremendous singer-songwriter and musician, plays Rochester’s Walnut Street Winery Friday from 7 to 11 p.m. Miller hails from near Decatur, played around town for years, spent time in Minneapolis-St. Paul and now lives and performs in Nashville, Tenn. For this show Chris will play some piano along with his mighty Martin and reunites after a 20-year span with longtime pal Catfish Evans on electric guitar, with Joe Dawkins doing a guest set and a possible appearance by Mike “Hobo” Coble, if someone tracks him down.

Jason Eklund hits town for one night only at the Butternut Hut on Friday as he begins a tour through Kansas and Colorado. One of my best pals and traveling buddies, Jason, also known as Captain Stringbean and Chicken House Slim among other names, has a bunch of new songs and plenty of old gems. We’ll do a song swap and jam some.

On Sunday, local musicians gather for a Family Service Center fundraiser at Brookhills Golf Club. Performers include Dave Littrell, Josie Lowder and Micah Walk, plus Brooke Thomas and the Blue Suns with special guest Debbie Ross, then Suns of Circumstance with Rick Mari doing Led Zeppelin tunes. They’ll have free hot dogs, area-made artwork and jewelry as silent auction items, local comedians hosting the show and all for no cover, just donations to help out this very good hometown facility.